Day 7
Left Dingboche for Lobuche after breakfast around 8 am. I was happy with the food and the weather was looking promising as well.
Few hours into the trek, had to cross one massive hill that nearly got me in tears! Shortly after, I arrived at a memorial dedicated to Everest climbers who’d passed away. You can see it in the youtube video which I will post this weekend.
So in less than 6 hours, I’d arrived in Lobuche 4940 meters. My room was the size of a shoebox but still had a decent view of Himalayas from the window. Dal Bhat for lunch and during the afternoon I went to check out the O2 restaurant, had my green tea, and browse through some books. These are a few great lines I remember.
– Why climb? Because it’s there!
– Realize better climbers than you’ve failed in it. Realize worse climbers than you’ve made it.
I ordered MoMo for dinner …never again! Just stick with trusted and reliable Dal Baht. and sat near the fire all evening reading my book, writing on the diary, and playing cards with a group of people from GAdventure who were occupying the whole lodge.
Bed around 10 pm but I was finding it hard to breathe! I was at 4940 meters above sea level for the first time in my life and my body was fighting a bit. It was a bit hard to stop panicking and this is where meditation came in handy. I remained calm, applied the same technique as the night in Pangboche and after some time I slept like a baby in a warm bed.
Day 8
Woke up at the wee hours with an amazing view of mountains. Had breakfast talking life with a cool couple from Colorado, they were returning from EBC. so, did our goodbyes and it was time for Gorakshep. I was looking forward to getting there before lunch and then Mt Everest Base Camp right after! Today was going to be the day I will cross off EBC from my bucket list!
There were many obstacles to get to Gorakshep but today’s trek was nothing compared to those scary ruthless stairs in Lobuche. I didn’t mind the trek and was content to be surrounded by stunning landscapes and giant mountains with every step.
While I was trekking I bumped into the same French girl from Pangboche! She had completed one of the passes and was on the way to Gorekshep as well. But because we have a different style of trekking we decided to go our own ways and see each other at the lodge later.
After a few hours finally, I arrived at Gorekshep 5164 meters. As soon as I checked into the hotel and sat for hot water; I figured the same group from gadventure were there too and one of the guys decided to share with everybody the message his mother had sent – a warning about death in EBC a few days ago. While I felt was feeling good about heading to EBC, hearing that message made me slightly anxious.
Anyway, first thing first food and rest. I ate Dal Bhat for lunch ( it was priced 700 NPR here and as expected things were expensive as you go up and far from Namche), laid down for a while with thoughts running through my head, and then finally it was time to go! I was stocked knowing I was only a few km away from EBC!
Gorekshep to Mount Everest basecamp was all about huffing and puffing through the flat land, steep uphill and downhill, landslides, crossing the scary ice cracks between mountains, encounters with fellow trekkers, agitation of bitter wind, light, zigzag trail surrounded with an amazing view and low oxygen. I was beginning to wonder about the distance covered and the next thing I know..Boom! I was in front of Mt. Everest Base Camp. 5364 m!! The excitement was an understatement!
I just stood there admiring those beautiful mountains thinking about the courage and journey it took to get there and my friends who helped. I can’t thank them enough. All in all, majestic feeling just being at the Base Camp even though you can’t see Mount Everest from here! It is a historic place, after all, the beginning of another wild ride to the Summit.
Full with the happiness of amazing experience, I didn’t need a break when going down to Gorekshep. The evening was well spent by the warm fire, decent Dal Bhat., chats with fellow trekkers, and a good book.
Now I was looking forward to the next day and Luxury hotel stay as a treat to myself. My plan was to wake up at 5 am for sunrise at Kala Patthar. This was where I was going see Mt Everest up close but also the place with a lot less oxygen than EBC itself. Trekking to Everest Base Camp was definitely worth the wait and something I would never forget.
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Thanks to everyone who helped me make it happen x
Annnnnd here’s the most awaited video. Enjoy!
Well done on doing the trek! It’s definitely on my bucket list, I was in Nepal only a couple of weeks ago and intend going back! Glad that you didn’t suffer any altitude effects!
Whoa! Awesome!! Congrats!!! I’ve been wanting to do a Everest BC trek for quite some time now! I know that my stamina would allow me to do it, but as you’ve mentioned its the oxygen acclimatization in the altitude which is what scares me! Hope I’ll get to do it soon! If you’ve reached there, excitement would definitely be an understatement!
Holy crap this must’ve been such a phenomenal experience!!! It’s never crossed my mind to do the trek, but this is the second blog post I’ve read about Everest in the past two weeks and I’m really starting to consider it. Awesome read!
That was indeed a brave trek. I would love to do this someday. I have never experienced places with less Oxygen. I wonder how it is like to be there.
I have never been to Everest and I’m American!This looks like quite an adventure. It’s good that you can mix it up a little bit. You get a more budget hotel and a luxury one! One day!
Fair play tya for doing this! No doubt it was a challenge. I don’t like the idea of being stuck at such high altitude struggling to breathe! Glad you managed to control it and get some well-needed rest!
Wow! Looks amazing! I am afraid of high altitude sickness and not so interested in doing this kind of thing myself, but I do look up the people who have done it. Great job! Must be a trip you will never forget.
Good job! What an amazing accomplishment. I would love to go to Mount Everest, I am not a huge treker though. One day maybe!
You are a trekking pro. I can only imagine what it is to climb Mount Everest Base Camp. Congratulations for your accomplishment. I will read your other trek stories too
I can’t even imagine doing this trek, but your post gives me a really good idea – what an incredible opportunity (but also hard work). I don’t know if I’ll ever get the chance to do this – what an amazing adventure!
That’s really awesome, congrats! Also great photos and hike description
It looks totally unlike I would imagine. How are the trails en route as I really fancy this but need to focus on my next big hike (first really) to Kili
Wow what an awesome trek! We both like hiking but I’m not sure we’d make it to Mt Everest! Haha.. Congratulations to you!! And thank you for sharing the beautiful photos!
My brother had just finished this trek and despite all the dificulties he calls it one of the best he has done in his life. Well done mate, I would some day want to do this too. Hopefully, I don’t get AMS
Everest base camp must be a great experience. I visited the Himalayas on the Indian side and these mountains were so beautiful! I can imagine it is even more beautiful, when you get lost in the middle of the mountains for days.
That glacier looks absolutely amazing!
Impressive. I was considering doing this once, but had no idea about the basecamp.
How do you ever adjust to the high elevation and not suffer from altitude sickness?! I can only imagine what an incredible experience you must have had!
Wow trek to the Everest Base camp is nothing less than magical. Kudos to your grit and determination for completing this difficult trek. I am sure all the challenges were really worth it at the end, Also lot of valuable information that is going to be handy. Hope to get there someday, the Himalayas are calling!
This is such an incredible challenge! I wonder how I would adjust to the altitude. Hard to say. Glad you’ve taken on this challenge and are writing all about it!
Everest is a bucket list item for many. I’m not sure I could handle it, but if I ever want to, I’d better get started soon and start hiking/climbing some easier peaks here in the USA.
I always admire mountain climbers but as a person who also loves to travel, my weakness is that I am afraid of heights and anywhere that may have an avalanche. Maybe I watched too much tv. HAHA. But anything mountain climbing, I always watch. It is SO interesting. Great post.
Would absolutely love to do this one day. Like this, just to the base camp. I don’t even dream of even attempting the actual mountain, heh.
What an amazing read, and some great shots. The wanderlust is setting in for sure now. Definitely and inspiring post.
What an amazing trip. I would have been added to the memorial if it were me up there. My lungs cannot handle that kind of altitude.
haha that is what I said prior to trekking too. Let me know if you decide to do it anyway, happy to help 🙂
WOW, this trek sounds like a total adventure, and your pictures are breathtaking! I don’t think I could do it.
It would be amazing to experience this. I never imagined going here even if I’m not climbing the top. I love that you shared your experience, giving us all a glimpse of what it’s going to be like!
You are definitely inspiring. I have never thought of doing a trek up a mountain like this. The change in altitude actually scares me. I guess you never know until you try.
Thank you, lovely article!
I am so jealous right now!!! I’m a mountaineer and this is defo on the bucketlist. Congrats and I’m glad you made it without injuring yourself. And the pictures look amazing!
I can’t imagine trekking that far or high up with friends, much less being alone. But I know the feeling in some way, great job! That lovely satisfaction will linger in your mind and body for a while.
I totally admire that you did this solo trek! I don’t know if I could do it on my own. But it definitely looks like an amazing experience. Look at those views!!!
Congratulations!!! Wohoo! This has been in my bucketlist and I hope to complete this trek someday.
Woooow!! This is beyond amazing!! Congrats for climbing up to Everest, such a huge milestone. I loved reading everything about it! Can’t wait to see what else you’ll cross from your bucket list.
That is such a huge accomplishment and so inspiring! It is on my bucket list too, hopefully, I will soon be able to see this beauty with my eyes.
Amazing! Love that you hiked this solo, not to mention I always wanted to visit Mt Everest.
What?? There’s somewhere in Nepal where the mo mo isn’t good? It was my favourite thing there! Everest looks incredible 🙂
Trekking in Everest is always an awesome trekking.
What a great post. I really like this post with awesome pictures and video. Thank you very much for sharing this.
Thanks for dropping by Rajesh 🙂